Police use Taser on man after chase into Mass. from Salem

SALEM — An apparently intoxicated Methuen, Mass., man was Tasered and arrested after he led Salem police on a chase through Methuen and Haverhill, Mass., late Saturday night.

When he was pulled over in Haverhill, Fred Riley, 33, of Methuen appeared “out of sorts claiming the officers were terrorists and people (were) out to get him,” according to Salem Deputy Chief Shawn Patten.

Shortly after 11:30 on Saturday night, Salem police officer Mike Verrochi stopped a vehicle on Pond Street. The driver initially stopped, but as Verrochi got closer to the car, the driver took off suddenly, making a U-turn over the lawn and driving at the officer, according to Patten.

Shortly after that, other responding officers located the car and pursued Riley into Methuen and Haverhill, a tactic Riley apparently didn’t find fair.

“During this time, the operator called the Methuen police department dispatch and inquired why Salem Police were following him in Massachusetts,” said Patten.

The Methuen police department advised Riley to pull over. Riley eventually pulled over at the intersection of Atkinson Road and Route 97 in Haverhill, where he got out of the car but refused officers’ commands and tried to get back into the car.

“He was Tasered and after a brief struggle was taken into custody,” Patten said. It was at this time that Riley allegedly claimed the police officers were terrorists and that people were out to get him.

Riley was taken into custody by Haverhill police on fugitive from justice charges, but Salem police are seeking charges and extradition for felony reckless conduct, resisting arrest, disobeying a police officer and driving with revoked plates.